Botanical Name: Veronicastrum virginicum. The common name “Culver’s root” comes from Dr. Culver, an eighteenth-century physician who promoted the use of this plant as medicine at that time. Other Common Names: Black root, Culver’s physic, Brinton’s root, Bowman’s Root, Beaumont’s root, tall speedwell, tall veronica, whorlywort, kransveronika (Swedish), Virginischer Ehrenpreis (German), culver (Spanish), skessudepla (Icelandic). […]
Medicinal Herb Profiles
Ashwagandha Benefits, Uses and Side Effects
Botanical Name of Ashwagandha: Withania somnifera. The ashwagandha root is often referred to as the “Indian ginseng” because it is used in a similar way in Ayurvedic (Indian) medicine as Panax ginseng is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The herb has been used for more than 2500 years to restore overall health and increase […]
Camphor Tree Uses, Benefits and Side Effects
Botanical Name: Cinnamomum camphora. Other Common Names: True camphor, hon-sho, laurel camphor, Japanese camphor, kamfertræ (Danish), Kampfer (German), alcanfor (Spanish), laurier du Japon. (French). Habitat: The camphor tree is native the southern islands of Japan and Taiwan, where they form majestic forests. It is also found growing wild in China. Today, it is cultivated in […]
Asarabacca Health Benefits and Medicinal Uses
Botanical Name: Asarum europaeum. Other Common Names: Hazelwort, wild nard, false coltsfoot, snakeroot, wild ginger, hasselurt (Danish), Haselwurz (German), asaro (Spanish), asaret d’Europe (French). Habitat: Asarabacca is endemic to the deciduous forests of Southern and Central Europe, Siberia, and the Caucasus. The plant prefers shaded areas and moist humus-rich, calcareous soil. The plant has become […]
Bay Laurel Medicinal Uses and Benefits
Botanical Name: Laurus nobilis. Other Common Names: Bay, Bayleaf, Bayleaf laurel, Laurel, Grecian laurel, True laurel, Sweet laurel, Sweet bay, Laurbær (Danish), Lor (German), Laurier (French), Yue gui (Chinese), Lárvidarlauf (Icelandic) Habitat Bay laurel is native to the eastern Mediterranean and the east coast of the Black Sea. The plant has been cultivated for centuries […]
Parsley Uses and Medicinal Benefits
Botanical Name: Petroselinum crispum. The genus name Petroselinum is derived from the Greek words “petra” meaning stone or rock and “selinin” meaning celery. The plant got its name from Pedanius Dioscorides (100 A.D.). Other Common Names: Garden parsley, common parsley, curled parsley, moss curled parsley, persilja (Swedish), Petersilie (German), perejil (Spanish), persil (French), yang hu […]
Eyebright Health Benefits and Medicinal Uses
Botanical Name: Euphrasia officinalis. The generic name Euphrasia means “well-being” and refers to the healing properties attributed to these plants. Other Common Names: Meadow eyebright, red eyebright, euphrasia, ögontröst (Swedish), Augentrostkraut (German), eufrasia (Spanish), casse-lunettes (French), augnfró (Icelandic). Habitat: Plants belonging to the genus Euphrasia are found in all parts of the world and include […]
Hedge Mustard Uses and Benefits
Botanical Name: Sisymbrium officinale. Other Common Names: Common hedge mustard, bank cress, singer’s plant, rank vejsennep (Danish), Weg-Rauke (German), erisimo (Spanish), herbe aux chantres (French). Habitat: Hedge mustard is found growing wild in most of the European cauntries, Southwest Asia and North Africa, and it has been introduced to both North and South America, South […]
Bayberry Benefits and Side Effects
Botanical Name: Myrica cerifera. Other Common Names: Wax myrtle, American baybebry, tallow shrub, waxberry, candleberry, vokspors (Norwegian), Wachsmyrte (German), arrayán (Spanish), cirier (French). Habitat: Bayberry is endemic to the coastal areas of eastern and southern North America. It has become a popular garden plant around the world where the climate is suitable. Description: Bayberry is […]
Thuja Herb Uses and Health Benefits
Botanical Name: Thuja occidentalis. Other Common Names: Arbor vitae, American arbor-vitae, eastern arborvitae, white cedar, false white cedar, northern white-cedar, yellow cedar, tuja (Swedish), tuya (Spanish), thuya d’occident (French), Lebensbaum (German). The common name arbor vitae is from Latin meaning “tree of life” and refers to alleged medicinal properties of the plant. Habitat: Thuja occidentalis […]